Recommendations To Help You Keep An Eye On Your Roof And Its Condition
Your roof is a durable and necessary part of your home and needs to be kept in great condition all year long. As your roof ages, it is more prone to failure and forming leaks from the constant wear and rainstorms that can wear it down. It is important for you to understand some of the more common areas in which your roof can fail and cause interior moisture leaks and other damage. Here are some tips to help you keep an eye out for and repair roofing leaks and problems.
Inspect Roof Attachments
Although you may not realize it, every time something is attached onto your roof by a contractor or internet technician, it puts your roof at risk of springing even the tiniest of leaks. And, as you may know, this can put you at risk for roof, attic, insulation, rafter, and drywall damage within your home. When the internet installation company attaches a new satellite dish on your roof and drills a hole into the roof to feed the connection cable, this leaves a tiny opening in your roof for moisture.
Take a look at your roof after any new attachments, such as antenna or utility lines, to make sure that they are sound and that there are no gaps. And when you disconnect or remove any unused attachments, be sure you fill up the screw or nail holes with some silicone roofing putty to patch up the voids. If any shingles have been damaged, ask your roofing professional to replace them with a whole shingle that doesn't have any damage.
Look at Common Failure Points
Another way to keep your roof protected is to look at areas of your roof that are prone to leaking. This includes the flashing around the chimney and around gables or dormers. Also look at the seals around your skylights and roof vents, especially if they are made of plastic.
These areas on your roof can crack and separate, leaving a small gap that moisture can penetrate. Your roofer can inspect these areas every few years to repair them as needed.
Prevent Ice Dams
During winter, your roof can look well-protected with a layer of snow upon its surface, but lurking beneath the snow can be a damaging layer of ice. Ice dams can form at the edge of your roof and cascade over as icicles, wedging between your roof deck and shingles. This type of damage is usually not found until spring when it all thaws, but you can install a protective barrier in the fall, well before the ice forms. Talk to your roofing contractor about installing additional roof vents, heating cables, and other prevention strategies.
To learn more, contact a roofing contractor.